Union Beach had a huge turn out for their Walk of Hope. About 1100 people participated in the walk. They were let down streets (starting at the beachfront by police, fire and rescue squad vehicles) past their neighbors damaged homes and lots where there used to be homes. There is still debris on the roads and in the marsh areas of town. It looks like the town was in a war. There are still families living in their homes with no heat. Families that live on the second floor while their first floor is completely gutted. And many families that live in trailers next to their condemned homes.
The one thing I noticed as people walked by was their hope. They were smiling and laughing with friends old and new and swapping horror stories about their insurance companies. But they were hopeful that they would be back in their own homes. I watched as the town walked by and couldn't help crying. These are my friends that I met that were walking zombies the first few weeks after the storm. They came to borough hall for supplies when they were covered in mud because the town was still under water. As each week passed I saw their faces change. As they came to grips with what had happened they started to slowly move towards rebuilding. They begin to wear their own clothes not borrowed and foraged clothing. There was eletricity for heat and showers - spirits lifted.
On the walk I saw a sea of blue. Blue is Union Beaches color. Blue is usually associated with being sad. In Union Beach it is the color of HOPE!
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